Credit: File

When Andrew Colangelo was diagnosed with Down syndrome, his family faced a difficult and complicated medical future for their son. That’s when Dr. Murray Feingold stepped in to help make sure Andrew got the care he needed.

“He was the support system,” said Andrew’s mother, Anna Clementi. “Dr. Feingold, knowing more about Down syndrome, really helped to guide me along and to reassure us.”

Children with Down syndrome typically see as many as five specialists, Feingold explained.

The Feingold Center in Waltham treats children for genetic diseases, birth defects and other disorders out of Children’s Hospital Boston, employing full-time coordinators to direct patient care. Those positions are directly funded by contributions to the Genesis Fund, the nonprofit fundraising organization for the Feingold Center.

Clementi said they had such a good experience with Feingold that they followed him from hospital to hospital whenever he moved, eventually ending up at the Feingold Center.

Andrew, now a 30-year-old who speaks Italian and loves to travel, still sees Feingold regularly.

“He’s watched Andrew grow from a child to a man,” Clementi said. “They have a great relationship.”

Dr. Feingold said he has watched Andrew mature and develop. “I’ve seen Andrew, who was a very shy youngster, become quite social,” he said.

Clementi said the passion and respect Feingold has for the children is what makes him such a pioneer. “At the center of it all is his love for these kids and the fact that they deserve the quality of care” as much as anyone else, Clementi said. “He’s such a cheerleader for these kids. He’s just helping so many parents on so many levels.”

Each year the Herald reminds readers of the work done for children at the Feingold Center. To make a donation to the Genesis Fund, please visit www.thegenesisfund.org[1] or call 781-890-4282.